Our Projects
Rhithu has been taking up projects since 2016 to support many primary schools in Kerala for improving their learning environments. Our products and services enabled these schools in creating motivating learning spaces, improving the reading environments and establishing ICT integrated teaching and learning process. The results were highly enchanting and encouraging to the teachers, parents and local community. Few case studies are given below:
GLPS Vellinezhy
Project 2016: ICT enabled teaching and learning process based on LEMS, reading environment, learning spaces and more...
GLPS Thanikkunnu
Project 2017: Learning spaces, ICT enabled teaching and learning process, reading environment, toys and play area and more...
GTHSS Sholayur
Project 2019: Reading environment, Learning aids, Portable digital library, localised learning environment and more...
GLPS Vellinezhy
A Govt. lower primary school with about 200 students and 10 teachers in Vellinezhy village of Palakkad district. Classes start from pre-primary to 4th standard. In 2016 when we started working with the school, total strength was about half of what they have now! Towards improving the learning environment of the school, we planned to focus on these key areas- reading environment, classroom learning space and ICT enabled teaching and learning process.
Based on the understanding of the reading level of students, we selected various types of children’s books for the school. The books were made available to all children all the time at a common area. Children themselves took charge of managing the movement of books in and out of library. It was not just books, but various reading based activities like student diary book, reading workshops, reading integrated classroom process etc. brought a significant change in the learning achievement of the school.
With a small funding assistance from the Grama Panchayath, we installed LEMS, the learning management system package at school as a first step towards ICT enabled teaching and learning process. All available old computers and components were repaired and utilised to arrange the infrastructure. Teachers went through various familiarisation programmes and workshops. Continuous support from Rhithu ensured uninterrupted availability of the system. Teachers actively involved in creating, localising and improving the digital contents for their LMS.
We added child friendly furniture and learning aids to create motivating learning environment in classrooms.
Learning achievements of the school were highly impressive and SSK, SCERT etc. visited, documented and appreciated the efforts taken. Student admissions increased, infrastructure funds started coming, divisions doubled and more teachers joined on board.
GLPS Thanikkunnu
Thanikkunnu Govt. lower primary school is located in a small village in Pookkottukavu panchayath in Palakkad district. For improving the learning environment of the school, we planned to focus on these areas- reading environment, learning spaces, preschool toys and ICT enabled teaching and learning process.
All the classrooms were converted to digital, by laptops, LED display panels, server and comuter network. For establishing ICT enabled teaching and learning process in the school, installed LEMS, the learning management system package (link) at school. Through familiarisation programmes and workshops teachers gained confidence and skills on using laptops, educational software and learning management system.
School campus and classrooms were transformed into motivating learning spaces by child friendly multifunctional furniture, learning aids, toys and play areas. The pre-primary children and their instructors were the happiest, who got toys, games and play facilities which they have never seen before.
Betterment of reading environment was achieved by addition of specially selected children’s books to the school library, setting up a mobile library unit for taking books to students and conduting reading activity workshops.
The project got high level of support from the parents, teachers and local people and funded by the Grama Panchayath.
GTHSS Sholayur
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Working for developing the learning environment in tribal school was an all different experience to us. Govt. tribal higher secondary school at Sholayur is one of the 18 schools in the Attappadi tribal area of Palakkad district. Students are having difficulty with the medium of instruction and many learning problems arise due to this. The language, text books, teachers, culture, examination everything need to be more ‘local’ and ‘real’ so that the learners won’t feel alienated.
Our project for the primary section(standard I to VII) of GTHSS Sholayur was based on the following objectives:
Developing child friendly reading environment:
We have installed library units in all the 18 classrooms with wall mounted 2 fold lockable rack filled along with books. The books were carefully selected by experts after analysing the reading levels and interests of the students. Students were made librarians of their classroom library. Conducted workshops for teachers to explore various reading based activities to overcome the known issue of language and also possibilities of integrating classroom library books with their curriculum subjects.
In addition to books, we are proving them a portable digital library also. A small computer box with pre-loaded reading materials in Malayalam and English in various formats. There are stories, poems, biographies, science and more. Children can read text, listen to audio, video and animated stories. There are interactive stories also which give a different kind of experience to the readers.
Understanding the importance of including local language and culture in their learning environment at school, programs and activities are planned in which students, teachers, local people will participate.
Develop enjoyable learning environment
As a first step towards learning support to the students, we provided a set of multi-functional learning aids to the school. These are cube shaped boxes for multiple activities and games. The activity areas include language, art, body and mind. Students use these for musical games, performance, math activities, puzzles, sky walks, tunnel walk and also for sitting.
Rhithu has taken up this project in association with Darsana Society and SSWEET, two non governmental organizations (NGO) with social commitment. The students and teachers were enchanted with the changed environment in their school and the visible learning outcomes.
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